Combined extension ladder and trestle



July 3, 1934. GAFFERS 1,965,311

COMBINED EXTENSION LADDER -AND TRESTLE Filed Sept. 9, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l (x 5 1: N

K) I 1 Q d N N i e k N m nu m f ml amen WM Herman 6. Gaff Gum/Mugs July 3, 1934. w

H. B. GAFFERS COMBINED EXTENSION LADDER AND TRESTLE Filed Sept. 9, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 176777101712 (Far/er Patented July 3, 1934 UNITED STATES COMBINED EXTENSION LADDER AND 'TRESTLE Herman B. Gaflers, Watervliet, N. Y. Application September 9, 1933, Serial No. 688,844

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ladders and trestles, and more particularly to combined extension ladder and trestle devices of the type to which my prior Patent No. 1,207,158 of 5 December 5, 1916, relates, comprising oppositely disposed sections hinged together at their upper ends to fold against each other and to be opened out to provide a trestle structure proper, and an extension ladder section connected with said hinged sections for vertical sliding adjustment therebetween.

An object of the invention is to provide improved guiding and supporting means for the extension section that while permitting of easy sliding adjustment of the extension section will at the same time afford increased rigidity and firmness of support for the extension section.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a structure comprising connecting plates to which the oppositely disposed sections are pivotally connected and guides for the extension section associated with the connecting plates, means of a simple efficient nature for connecting the plates together to reinforce and maintain the same in proper spaced relation, whereby a stronger, more rigid, serviceable construction is provided and a more satisfactory support for the extension section provided by a latch associated therewith.

The invention, with other objects and advantages thereof, and the particular construction, combinations and arrangements of parts comprising the same will be understood from the following detail description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a combined extension ladder and trestle constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section approximately on the line 2-2 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section on Figures 6 and 7 are detail views of one of the 7 connecting plates; 7

Figures 8 and 9 are detail views of one of the bearing plates for the inner side faces of the upper ends of the rails of the hinged sections.

' nuts 6.

While in the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated which has proven satisfactory in practice, it will, of course, be understood that minor changes and modifications may be made in the particular construction? shown and the invention may be embodied in other forms, as will appeal to those skilled in the art, and falling within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the construction shown in the drawings, 1 and 2 designate the oppositely disposed hinged ladder sections adapted to be adjusted to open position as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings to provide a trestle or to be folded together;

to constitute a section of an ordinary extension ladder in the well known manner.

3 designates connecting plates at opposite sides of the sections 1 and 2 to which the sections are pivotally connected near their upper ends by bolts 4 which extend through the side rails of the sections and through apertures 5 in the said plates to the inner sides thereof, the bolts having threaded inner end portions to receive securing In accordance with the present invention, the plates 3 are connected at their upper and lower portions by pairs of transverse rod members '7, 8. The pairs of rod members are secured at opposite end portions thereof to the plates 3 in any suitable way, for example, as in the construction shown, in which the end portions of the rod members extend through apertures in the plates and are upset to form securing heads. The rod members 7 and the rod members 8 are laterallyi spaced, as shown, to accommodate therebetween the extension section 9, and mounted for rotation on the rod members at opposite sides of the extension section are rollers adapted to contact with the front and rear faces of the side rails of thev extension section and to support the same for vertical adjustment relatively to the hinged sections. In the particular exemplification of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the rod members are provided with reduced end portions 7a, 8a, and two rollers 10 are mounted on the reduced end portions of the rod members, the rollers being retained in position on the end portions of the rod members between the shoulder portions 7b, 8b of the rod members and. the

connecting plates 3.

Associated with the lower pair of rod members 8 is means for holding the extension section 9 in adjusted position, said means comprising a latchmember 11 pivotally' mounted on one of the lower rod members 8 and adapted to extend across the path of the rungs of the extension section and to rest upon the other lower rod member 8 to form a support for the extension section, said latch being adapted to readily permit the passage of the rungs of the extension section in the upward adjustment of the same and to engage behind or beneath a rung of the extension section to hold the extension section against downward movement. The latch preferably takes the form shown, namely, a U-shaped bail having eyes 11a pivotally engaging one of the rod members 8, inwardly of the rollers 10. As will be understood the weight of the latch 11 normally tends to maintain the same in horizontal position with its side portions resting upon the other lower rod member 8, the latch being adapted to be forced upwardly out of the path of the rungs of the extension section when the same is moved upwardly and to automatically return to horizontal position after the rung has moved upwardly out of engagement therewith.

Each of the connecting plates 3 is provided at its outer side with projecting portions 12, 13, adapted to be engaged by the upper inclined end faces 1a 2a, of the rails of the hinged sections 1 and 2 when the sections are opened to form a trestle, said projecting portions serving as stops to limit the separating movement of the sections and also as bearings for the upper ends of the rails of the sections. The connecting plates 3 conveniently take the form of metal stampings, the projecting portions 12, 13, of the plates being formed as shown by portions struck up from the plates.

The rails of each of the hinged sections 1 and 2 are preferably arranged to extend from their lower ends at an inward inclination to each other, and when so constructed, I employ plates 14 interposed, as shown, between the upper ends .of the rails of said sections and the adjacent connecting plates 3, said plates being supported in place upon the pivot bolts 4 passing through suitable apertures therein.

Folding braces 15 and 16, of any suitable construction are connected with the hinged sections 1 and 2 at opposite sides thereof, the braces being shown as comprising pairs of link members 15, 16', connected at their inner ends with each other and having their outer ends connected respectively with the sections, one of the links of each brace being provided with the usual stop 17 to engage the other link.

As shown in the drawings, the spacing of the pairs of rod members 7, 8, from each other relatively to the spacing of the rungs of the extension section 9, is such that when said extension section is supported on the latch member 11, a rung of the extension section will always be disposed slightly above the upper pair of rod members, this arrangement preventing the placing of a board or stage directly upon the upper pair of transverse rod members.

It will be noted that the rollers supported on the transverse rod members at opposite sides of the extension section and in close contact with the front and rear faces of the side rails thereof will afford a firm, rigid support for the extension section while permitting of the easy, vertical adjustment of the same. The pairs of transverse rod members tying the plates together, serve to reinforce the structure and to prevent spreading of the plates, the lower pair of rod members also serving as an efiicient mounting and support for the pivoted latch member for holding the extension section in adjusted position.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of oppositely disposed sections, connecting plates at opposite sides of the sections to which the sections are pivoted near their upper ends, an extension section, means for supporting the extension section for vertical sliding adjustment between the oppositely disposed sections, said means including pairs of laterally spaced, oppositely disposed transverse rod members connecting said plates, the pairs of rod members being spaced vertically one above another, and rollers mounted on said rod members at opposite sides of the extension section and engaging the front and rear faces of the side rails thereof, and'means for holding the extension section in different positions of adjustment.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of oppositely disposed sections, connecting plates at opposite sides of the sections to which the sections are pivoted near their up per ends, an extension section, means for supporting the extension section for vertical sliding adjustment between the oppositely disposed sections, said means including pairs of laterally spaced, oppositely disposed transverse rod members connecting said plates, the pairs of rod members being spaced vertically one above another, and rollers mounted on said rod members at opposite sides of the extension section and engaging the front and rear faces of the side rails thereof, and a latch pivotally mounted on one of the lowermost rod members and adapted to rest upon the oppositely disposed rod member, said latch being adapted to be engaged by a rung of the extension section and to form a support therefor.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of oppositely disposed sections, connecting plates at opposite sides of the sections to which the sections are pivoted near their upper ends, an extension section, means for supporting the extension section for vertical sliding adjustment between the oppositely disposed sections, said means including pairs of laterally spaced, oppositely disposed transverse rod members connecting said plates, the pairs of rod members being spaced vertically one above another, and rollers mounted on said rod members at opposite sides of the extension section and engaging the front and rear faces of the side rails thereof, and a latch comprising a substantially U-shaped bail, the side portions of the bail being provided with bearing eyes at their free ends loosely engaging one of the lowermost rod members, and the side portions of the bail being adapted to rest upon the oppositely disposed rod member.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of oppositely disposed sections, connecting plates at opposite sides of the sections to which the same are pivoted near their upper ends, an extension section, means for supporting the extension section for vertical adjustment be-- tween the oppositely disposed sections, said means including pairs of laterally spaced oppositely disbination of oppositely disposed sections, connecting plates at opposite sides of the sections to which the same are pivoted near their upper ends, an extension section, means for supporting the extension section for vertical adjustment between the oppositely disposed sections, said means including pairs of laterally spaced oppositely disposed transverse rod members connecting said plates at the upper and lower portions thereof, and rollers mounted on said rod members at opposite sides of the extension section and engaging the front and rear faces of the side rails thereof; and a latch pivotally mounted on one of the lower rod members and adapted to rest upon the oppositely disposed rod member, said latch being adapted to be engaged by a rung of the extension section and to form a support therefor.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of oppositely disposed sections, connecting plates at opposite sides of the sections to which the same are pivoted near their upper ends, an extension section, means for supporting the extension section for vertical adjustment between the oppositely disposed sections, said means including pairs of laterally spaced oppositely disposed transverse rod members connecting said plates, the pairs of rod members being spaced vertically one above another, and

rollers on end portions of the rod members to contact with the front and rear faces of the side rails of the extension section, and a latch pivotally mounted on one of the lowermost rod members inwardly of the rollers thereon and adapted to rest upon the oppositely disposed rod member, said latch being adapted to be engaged by a rung of the extension section and to form a support therefor.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of oppositely disposed sections, connecting plates at opposite sides of the sections to which the same are pivoted near their upper ends, an extension section, means for supporting the extension section for vertical adjustment between the oppositely disposed sections, said means including pairs of laterally spaced oppositely disposed transverse rod members connecting said plates, the pairs of rod members being spaced vertically one above another, said rods having reduced end portions, and rollers mounted on the reduced end portions of the rod members disposed at opposite sides of the extension section and contacting with the front and rear faces of the side rails thereof, and means for holding the extension section in different posi-- tions of adjustment.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of oppositely disposed sections, connecting plates at opposite sides of the sections to which the same are pivoted near their upper ends, an extension section, means for supporting the extension section for vertical adjustment between the oppositely disposed sections, said means including laterally spaced transverse rod members connecting said plates, and rollers mounted on said rod members at opposite sides of the extension section and engaging the front and rear faces of the side rails thereof to support the same for vertical adjustment, and means for holding the extension section in different positions of adjustment.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of oppositely disposed sections, connecting plates at opposite sides of the sections to which the same are pivoted near their upper ends, an extension section, means for supporting the extension section for vertical adjustment between the oppositely disposed sections, said means including pairs of laterally spaced oppositely disposed transverse rod members connecting said plates at the upper and lower portions thereof, and rollers mounted on said rods at opposite sides of the extension section and engaging the front and rear faces of the side rails thereof, a latch pivotally mounted on one of the lower rod members and adapted to rest upon the oppositely disposed rod member, said latch being adapted to be engaged by a rung of the extension section and to form a support therefor, the pairs of rod members being so spaced relatively to the spacing of the rungs of the extension section, that when the extension section is held by the latch, one of the rungs of the extension section will project slightly above the upper rod members.

HERMAN B. GAFFERS. 

